Slip n Slide Fun

On August 28, we had some fun in the backyard with the boys. We set up the slip n slide and the kids had so much fun. Kyler has had some practice with it now and is doing pretty well. The first times he tried it, he didn't quite get the idea of how it was supposed to work and he landed pretty hard. But he slowly got it figured out and managed to learn the run and slide technique. 

Caden didn't quite understand the run and slide technique. But we also didn't want him sliding on his tummy because we were afraid it would rip the g-tube out. So, Greg figured out a way to have Caden sitting down, and he pulled him along the first part of the slide part and then threw/pushed him the rest of the way. It was hilarious! Caden had so much fun and didn't want to stop. He kept jumping up and running back to the beginning to do it over and over again. What fun memories! :)

Just look at the sheer joy on his face!  :)

Cardiology Update

On Thursday, August 18, Kyler had his annual cardiology echocardiogram to make sure his pulmonary valve is doing what it is supposed to do and isn't getting worse. They check every year to make sure his valve is growing with him as he gets bigger. If it stops growing, they could have to do another heart catheterization to balloon open the valve again (like they did at 3 months old). Or, if things get really bad, it could eventually mean a valve replacement. But that is worst case scenario and I don't think we'll come to that. So far, every year, things have looked fantastic!

This year was no different. On the 23rd, we had our follow up appointment with Dr. Van Gundy to get the results of the echo. He said everything looks great. He doesn't have any concerns for Kyler right now and said he has no restrictions on activities or anything else. He is just like your typical healthy kid. What a blessing to hear things like that! I honestly don't worry about Kyler's heart too much and I think I almost forget he has a heart defect because he has always seemed so healthy and he never required heart surgery like Caden. So from that perspective, Kyler's issues seems “minor”. But anytime your child has a heart defect, there is always that chance that things can go horribly wrong. So, I am always relieved when we leave the cardiologist's office with a good report. Looks like Kyler' is good to go for another year. Praise God!

1st Day of Kindergarten

On Wednesday, August 17, Kyler had has 1st day of Kindergarten. I can't believe my firstborn is old enough to be in Kindergarten!!! I still remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. I suppose all moms feel that way about the birth of their children. It is truly amazing how fast time flies by!!!

I really struggled with where to send him. We knew he would be attending either Sacramento Adventist Academy (SAA) or Orangvale Adventist School. SAA is about 5 minutes from our house and Orangevale is about 20-25 minutes away. I have to say that is really the only thing that was holding me back from wholeheartedly choosing Orangevale. I have many friends whose children have had the Kindergarten teacher there and have such glowing things to say about her. Mrs. Altman truly is an amazing teacher! So, that is what my heart was telling me all along. But I felt like with Caden's busy schedule of therapies, I really should consider SAA because it was so close and it would be much easier to get Kyler to/from school. In the end, we chose Orangevale because we felt it was where he would get the most individual attention and the best start to his school years.

So, on the 17th, Greg and I both went with him to his first day. Our biggest challenge that morning was getting him out of bed early enough for him to get there on time. They start at 8:15 so he has to be up by 7 in order to allow us enough time to get there in the morning. That is an early start for a boy I had to wake up at 8 am the last two years for preschool at 9! But once we got Kyler to school he was so excited to see a chair with his name on it! He couldn't believe he had his very own chair and cubby and mailbox. It was so much fun to see the joy in his eyes.

He really loves his teacher and his classmates. And one of the other reasons I love the school is because there are only 7 kids in his class. The first week they only had 6 but one more boy started the 2nd week. And, out of 7 kids, there are 6 boys!!! I know that the small class size will allow Kyler to get the individual attention he needs to succeed in his first year of school.

Mrs. Altman is such a wonderful teacher. We are so blessed to have her for Kyler. The drive has added a lot more scheduling problems to my life but it is worth it and I am making it work. I know this is the right place when Kyler comes home singing Bible songs and telling me the stories he learned from the Bible. It makes me cry tears of joy when I see what a wonderful school this is and the positive Christian foundation it is giving my son. We are blessed!

My big boy on his 1st day of school!

His teacher, Mrs. Altman

His very own chair, one of the things that made him most excited!

Kyler with his 5 classmates and his teacher

Rivercats

As soon as we got home from our camping trip, Kyler and Greg took a shower and headed off to the Sacramento Rivercats game (minor league baseball). Greg got tickets through his work and they sat with some other people from the office. Kyler had a good time, but his favorite part was when he found another little friend from church sitting in the grass “seats”. They ended up spending the rest of the time there so the boys could play. It was a fun evening of father/son bonding time.

Camping

The weekend of August 12-15, we took the boys camping with Greg's parents. We went to Fish Lake in southern Oregon, about 45 minutes outside of Medford. This was Caden's 1st real camping experience. He spent 1 night at Lake Tahoe when he was about 9 months old, but this was 3 nights and he definitely got more of the camping experience. Although this time the boys slept in the trailer with Greg's parents and were in the tent by ourselves. I have to say that was a nice way for us to camp. :)

It was really nice to have the trailer because we had a fridge for Caden's food and electricity for his nebulizer so we could give him his required breathing treatments. And, not having them in the tent with us meant that we actually got some sleep at night!

Caden had an incredible time! He LOVES to be outside so was thrilled that he could play in the dirt all he wanted. We spent some time in the lake also. Caden didn't seem to be too phased by the cold water. Kyler on the other hand, did not like it much at all. They both had fun playing near the shore, especially with the swim noodles.

I stayed at camp during Caden's naps in the afternoon and Kyler went on hikes with Greg and Grandma. Kyler also went fishing with Grandpa although they didn't catch anything. I think Kyler's favorite part of the weekend was eating marshmallows. He didn't want to roast them or make s'mores. But he wanted plain marshmallows. To each their own! It was a fun weekend and I think the boys made some great memories with their Grandma Mary & Grandpa Dan.

Hanging by the campfire Friday night

Silly boy wearing a bucket "hat"!

Our tent home for the weekend

The boys loved their own personal chairs

Caden decked out in swimming clothes, life jacket & hat

Greg taking the boys to the lake again

The McCulloch men hanging by the morning fire

Kyler loved to be on fire pit duty

Ky fishing with Grandpa Dan

I'm ready to eat my s'more! mmmmm....

Gathered around the fire one last time

Thank you Grandpa and Grandma for a wonderful time!

Sunsplash

On Monday, August 8, we attended the annual company picnic at Sunsplash with Greg's work. Last year we missed it because we were out of town and Kyler was so disappointed. The year before (2009), he wasn't quite tall enough for many of the water slides so he didn't get to do much. But last year he would have been able to do them if we had gone. So any time we drove by the water park, he would ask when we were going to go. Once it was about a month away, he started the daily countdown of when we got to go because he was so excited. :)

When we got there Kyler and Greg took off right away to go on the water slides. He was SOOO happy! Apparently they went down almost everything he could do at his height. He wasn't scared of any of them. And, I think it helped that we had just been doing swimming lessons and he was finally “water safe”. He's not the best swimmer, but I know he can get to the side of the pool safely now and since he had that confidence that really helped.

Caden wouldn't go in the water with me at all. But as soon as Greg and Kyler came back, he wanted to go play in the water with them. So he floated along the lazy river, played in the wave pool, had fun in the kiddie water play area, and even went down a few small slides with Greg. He had a blast!

After dinner, we played a round of mini golf with the kids. I wouldn't say it was ideal timing (it was HOT, late, and Caden hadn't gotten a nap), but they still had fun. Kyler had some really good shots, including a hole in one! Caden spent most of his time playing with a spare golf ball and didn't really play golf but he still seemed to enjoy himself. I would say it was a very successful family outing and a fun time was had by all!

All ready to play in the water

Getting ready to play mini golf - they sure look excited!

Great shot Ky!

Waiting for our turn at the next hole

See I played golf too...

At the end of golf and we all survived! :)

Congenital Heart Walk

On Saturday, August 6, I participated in the Congenital Heart Walk in Oakland, CA. Kyler and Caden came with me as well. Greg had another commitment so he couldn't make it. There were a couple other Mended Little Hearts of Sacramento families that made the drive to the bay area to participate also.

This is the first year I have done this walk. Last year we did the American Heart Association (AHA) Heart Walk in Sacramento. I enjoyed doing that walk but it is much larger and mostly focused on heart disease and stroke. Very little attention actually goes to pediatric congenital heart defect research and technology advancement. So when I found out about the Congenital Heart Walk in Oakland, I decided this is where I wanted to focus my fund-raising efforts.

It is a MUCH smaller scale than the AHA walk but that was okay with me. I'm not exactly sure how many people walked, but maybe 75-100??? One of the fun things for me was 2 of my cousins coming to walk with me. I haven't seen Hannah in about 2 years and I haven't seen her sister Emily in probably 10 years or more. I actually can't remember. But it was so fun to catch up with them on our 5K walk. Thank you both so much for coming to walk with me!

It was pretty cool because I ended up being the number 1 individual fundraiser for the walk. There was a team that raised more money than I did, but I raised the most by any 1 person. :) I am so excited to raise that money for such a good cause, especially because times are tough for everyone these days. I had some very generous people donate larger sums of money to help make this happen. What a blessing!

With our Mended Little Hearts of Sacramento Group

The two reasons I walk!

Me and the boys with cousins, Hannah and Emily

Aquatics Center

On Thursday, August 4, I took both the boys to the Roseville Aquatics Center. The Placer County Warmline sponsored an event for families with children with disabilities. It was a fun time for the boys to splash and play in the water. Unfortunately, even though the sun was shining brightly, it was a little cool that day, especially with the wind. So Kyler didn't spend much time in the water because he was too cold. Caden, on the other hand, didn't seem too phased by the cold water after he adjusted to the environment.

Caden all ready for fun in the sun!

Kyler shivering from the cold... :)